Bhubaneswar: Even as police and district administrations across Odisha intensify efforts to identify and act against illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, the state capital Bhubaneswar is witnessing a rapid rise in such unauthorized settlements. The growing presence of infiltrators, particularly in newly emerging slum clusters, has raised serious concerns over law and order, with officials linking the trend to increased cases of drug trafficking, robbery, theft, and other criminal activities.
Amid these growing security concerns, the Bhubaneswar Mahanagar Unit of the Hindu Jagaran Manch launched a targeted campaign across the city. As part of this initiative, a delegation led by the organisation’s Bhubaneswar Mahanagar Convenor Dambarudhar Jayasingh visited all 17 police stations under the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police. The team submitted memorandum to each station head, urging immediate identification of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and acceleration of their deportation process.
Following the citywide outreach, the delegation met Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Devadatta Singh, submitting a detailed memorandum and requesting a dedicated special drive to identify and apprehend infiltrators living illegally in the capital. The organisation demanded that the deportation mechanism be strengthened and implemented with urgency.
Memorandum Flags National Security Concerns Linked to Recent Terror Incidents
In its memorandum, the Hindu Jagaran Manch drew attention to recent terror incidents in the country, describing them as a grim reminder of the need for uncompromised internal security measures. Referring to the recent bomb blast inside the Red Fort complex in Delhi, the memorandum noted:
“The incident has raised serious questions about the nation’s internal security. Earlier too, the brutal killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam had shaken the entire country. These events underscore the danger posed by infiltrators and suspected anti-national elements living within our borders.”
The organisation emphasised that despite the Central Government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy against terrorism, the presence of illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals—some allegedly sympathetic to hostile nations—continues to pose a major internal security threat.
Centre and State Issued Clear Directives, But On-ground Challenges Persist
The memorandum further pointed out that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already issued instructions to all states, directing them to monitor activities of such infiltrators closely and ensure their identification and deportation at the police-station level. Odisha’s Home Department, too, has initiated steps in this direction, and several districts have seen increased raids and verification drives in recent weeks.
Citing media reports, the Manch highlighted that Bhubaneswar itself hosts a “significant number” of illegal Bangladeshi residents who are allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling, sex trafficking, illegal arms trade, snatching, burglary, and even cattle trafficking. These activities, the memorandum argued, are contributing directly to the rising crime graph of the city and putting public safety at risk.
Emergence of New Slum Cluster ‘Rehmat Nagar’ Near AIIMS Raises Alarms
During the meeting with the Police Commissioner, senior Hindu Jagaran Manch member Sunil Kumar Barik brought to notice the emergence of a new slum cluster, reportedly named ‘Rehmat Nagar’, near AIIMS Bhubaneswar. According to the delegation, this settlement has come up by encroaching government land, and many of its residents are suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals.
Barik pointed out that this was not an isolated development. Several locations in the city, he said, have recently witnessed the creation of similar slum pockets—allegedly built in an organised manner to shelter infiltrators. He warned that the unchecked expansion of such clusters could lead to severe law and order challenges if immediate action is not taken.
Police Commissioner Assures Swift and Continued Action
Police Commissioner S. Devadatta Singh assured the delegation that the Commissionerate Police is already conducting verification drives and acting against illegal infiltrators. He stated that the process would be intensified in the coming days, keeping national security as the top priority.
He reiterated that public safety and internal security remain non-negotiable, and the administration is actively monitoring all developments related to illegal migration and suspicious settlements.
